Joel's Journey: beach photo shoot 2011

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

beach photo shoot 2011

We made it to the beach for a photo shoot with the most awesome photographer there is, and my white picture frame....... but I left the letter "M" somewhere in between Oklahoma and Florida! (you will notice when you see the picture below) But hey, everything can not always be perfect, especially when 14+ people are trying to smile, keep their eyes open at a white beach blaring sunny day!! I am very happy with the pictures and very grateful to Kristen for taking them for us!! How could I go to a beach and not take a family photo!! I couldn't!!!!!

Florida Christmas at the Beach 2011

the sun was sooooo bright on the white sand......hard to keep those eyes open!

ok, notice anything......we dont know how to spell...hahah!!!

this was the one i mentioned.....the "M" got lost somewhere!!!!

I wanna go back to the beach.....missing it!!!

we added a few extra special gals in this one.......

Josh 13, Mercy 5, Anna 19, Elijah 21, Bethany 22, Hosanna 9, Daniel 24, Caleb 24

Jeremiah 11, Micah 17, Josiah 8, and Andrew 15

.....and we miss you Joel!!!

us......

i think these are soooooo sweet!!!!!

Mercy and Josiah!!

Hosanna, Josiah, and Mercy!!

the mom and dad of this crew!!

......and here is the awesome, beautiful couple!!!

sisters!!!!

Melissa and Elijah!

Thank you Kristen!!!! Wonderful memories from the beach at Christmas!!!!

Cindy

5 comments:

Teena said...: I love them all! Love the beach! So thankful all of you were able to go and enjoy yourself. Wonderful memories!

Just beautiful!

Hugs,
Teena; January 12, 2012 at 7:13 AM
Cheryl said...: Oh, I LOVE the pictures Mrs. M!!! We really need a new one for our refrigerator! =) Miss ya'll!

`Abbie; January 12, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Heather said...: Beautiful pictures! I'm thinking, in the picture with Merry Christas you should edit the photo and paste an angel in the blue sky holding an "M" :); January 12, 2012 at 8:43 PM
amy said...: I'm still amazed at all of these beautiful pictures.; January 13, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Rachel said...: Thank you so much for sending me the link to the post on the scripture! It was so beautiful and inspirational and full of hope! I have been thinking of you this month even though I am slow to write. You are so courageous. Thank you for sharing your journey and passing on some wisdom to the others of us who are walking a similar road.
Your sister in Him,
rachel; January 16, 2012 at 9:42 PM

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Joel's Story

Joel, our 11th of 13 and a twin of Josiah, at age 3 was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, on December 6th, 2006. Joel had three perfect years of health and he and Josiah celebrated their 3rd birthday Sept. 13th, 2006. The first of Oct. Joel started having unexplained fevers for a few days and would return to active play. After the fourth round of fevers we took him to our family Dr. which they said his iron was low, so we treated that for a few weeks and took him back only to have his hemo. showing lower than before. We were referred to a hematologists and saw him a few weeks with blood checks twice a week. At a visit on Dec. 4th we showed the Dr. the bumps, (which were tumors but we did not know at the time) on Joel's head and he was very concerned and we were told we needed to admit him immediately and start extensive tests the following day. Joel went through rigorous testing and then the dreaded results were given. Joel was at a stage IV the most extensive stage, but we were hopeful that the Lord would use the means of Chemotherapy treatments to restore Joel's body. Joel endured 8 1/2 days in the hospital, came home for Christmas, and returned for his second round of chemo Jan. 3, 2007. Joel had a seizure that night after midnight and went into a coma due to a tumor bleeding in his head area and causing his brain to swell. After tests the following days, the Dr. declared Joel "brain dead" and took us to court to force us to take Joel off life support, as we did not agree with the medical field's definition of death. Our family sought to stand with the scripture, "life is in the blood,"and until Joel's heart quit beating naturally, he was living. We were making arrangements to bring him home and on January 23, 2007 his little heart stopped beating and he went to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Our lives are changed forever. God is faithful in the midst of this trial and we look with great hope to be with him someday.